Pelargonium plant named ‘Duegbofmer’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duegbofmer’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large deep red to dark red purple-colored double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEGBOFMER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duegbofmer’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2008 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number P05-3845-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number F-1816-018, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duegbofmer’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duegbofmer’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large deep red to dark red purple-colored double flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more compact than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Ivy Geranium and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have lighter red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium peltatum ‘Vicky’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Vicky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had shorter and thicker         lateral branches than plants of ‘Vicky’.     -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Vicky’.     -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium and ‘Vicky’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Vicky’ had lighter red purple-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ivy Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duegbofmer’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Duegbofmer’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number P05-3845-001,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             peltatum identified as code number F-1816-018, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about 15             basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 22.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 52 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.3 cm; sinus depth, up to about 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly reniform; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Lobe apices, acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 137C. Zonation pattern: Distance             from margin: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2.4 mm. Color: Close             to 200A. Petioles: Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About             2.2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double type flowers arranged in rounded             hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels             displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about ten to twelve             flowers per umbel and potentially about 25 to 30 flower             umbels developing per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer until the             autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.4 cm by 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 59A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 60B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 53A; venation, close to 187A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 67A; venation, close to 64A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 21 to 22 arranged in             several whorls. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 8.4 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 59A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 60B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 53A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 67A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3.3 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 14.6 cm. Diameter:             About 3.9 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 1.6 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             None or one. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color:             Close to 155A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 165B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7.6 mm.             Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style             length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 158B. Ovary color:             Close to 138C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy     Geranium plants. -   Garden Performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been     observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duegbofmer’ as illustrated and described. 